Microsoft improves Xbox app home screen for Windows

Microsoft has released an update for the Xbox app on Windows that is aimed exclusively at members of the Xbox Insiders program. The new Home experience comes as a way to make access to games more intuitive and unified.

With several redesigned sections and personalized features, the update is the result of work based on feedback from users themselves and was developed to simplify the use of the Xbox application, combining the best parts of Game Pass and the Microsoft Store on a single home page. Find out more!

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A new unified home in the Xbox app

The new home page, or Home, for the Xbox app on Windows was created to highlight the most relevant content, with a focus on practicality and accessibility. Now, the layout has been adjusted to centralize all essential content, preventing users from having to navigate between different tabs to find what they want.

“We’ve listened to your feedback and have been testing different designs internally over the last few months”said the development team on Xbox Wire. “Our goal is to create a unified Home experience that combines the latest and greatest content from the Game Pass and Microsoft Store tabs, so you can easily find what you love without having to switch between tabs.”

As stated, Microsoft revealed that the news arrived after analyzing various feedback from users, mainly those who wanted a more efficient and improved way of browsing.

Over the last few months, the Xbox team had already been working on several different versions of design and features, and then they came up with this solution that could represent what players really draw from the Xbox experience.

Featured content panel and gaming news

The new Home features a content section that is highlighted as soon as the page is opened, and is one of the biggest new features of the update. It will have a panel that will display new game releases, special events, recent additions to the Game Pass catalog, as well as important promotions and discounts from the Microsoft Store.

This is a way of ensuring that users are always aware of game updates and opportunities, with an overview of all the new features there, thus preventing them from having to look for this type of information elsewhere.

The new feature is interesting mainly to ensure that players quickly find out about launches and promotions, such as periodic events offered by Microsoft, to guarantee a good discount on their favorite games.

Personalized recommendations and game resumption

The new Home also does not have a personalized recommendations section, which is based on the purchase history and games already played by each user separately. The new feature arrives as a way to ensure that each user stays up to date with the latest developments in those gaming segments that they like most, with tailor-made suggestions.

Another interesting feature integrated into the new Home is the “Jump Back In” function, which was being tested for Compact Mode users. With this option, the games most recently accessed by the user appear at the top of the page, allowing quick access to resume exactly where they left off.

This improved experience offers convenience and speed, especially for those who play frequently and value fluid navigation.

You must be enrolled in the Xbox Insider Program

For those interested in trying out the new Home experience, Microsoft has provided access through the Xbox Insider program, which allows users to participate in testing and provide direct feedback to improve the experience. Simply download the Xbox Insider Hub app from the Microsoft Store and sign up for the program, which offers access to preliminary versions of the app and other features in development.

The version hosting this new experience is “2411.1000.49.0”, and Microsoft invites participants to share their impressions of the update through an in-app survey.